In addition to the realization of these world-class murals, the artists had the opportunity to immerse themselves into and experience the various marine ecosystems of Napier and learn about traditions, culture, and environmental challenges from local experts.

Find out more reading bellow each storie.

Artist and mural statements written and edited by Miya Tsukazaki and Enriqueta Arias.

The massive Botkin/Cinzah collaboration explores significant Māori and global nautical mythologies, featuring the entangled bodies of a longfin eel (the largest and the only endemic freshwater eel species of New Zealand that is in a threatened condition), and an octopus covered in the face markings of traditional Māori ‘Tā moko.’

Also featured are guest appearances from various birds and aquatic life that have long been a food source for the people of these islands, which are now facing dramatically lowered regional populations. The mural also addresses the importance of Marine Protected Areas for maintaining the vital interrelationships between species and habitats.

“Recently I had the privilege of working alongside some of my good friends at PangeaSeed to co-produce Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans Festival here in New Zealand. The largest international mural painting festival to ever come to New Zealand, here in my hometown of Napier, in Hawkes Bay. The festival consisted of 29 artists all painting murals raising awareness for different ocean related issues. From Shark finning, over fishing, ocean acidification, plastic pollution, agricultural and industrial run off and highlighting endangered endemic marine species.

I am honored to paint the National Aquarium of New Zealand, a collaborative mural, working alongside good friend and rediculously talented artist Jason Botkin (Montreal, Canada).

The 300′ (130m long) Botkin / Cinzah collab explores significant Māori and global nautical mythologies, featuring the entangled bodies of a longfin eel (the largest and the only endemic freshwater eel species of New Zealand that is in a threatened condition), and an octopus covered in the face markings of traditional Māori Tā moko (tattoo). Also featured are guest appearances from various birds and aquatic life that have long been a food source for the people of these islands, which are now facing dramatically lowered regional populations.” – Cinzah

The mural also addresses the importance of Marine Protected Areas for maintaining the vital interrelationships between species and habitats.

“With my mural for Sea Walls, Napier, I was attempting to address several interrelated issues. I think the deeper I look into issues like ocean conservation I realise that nothing happens in a vacuum. Everything is connected because we live on a planet that is actually a closed system. To allow things to recycle within that system we have to be conscious of consuming more harmoniously with the system as opposed to being so disruptive. I can talk about how we are driving climate change, how it is warming the planet and subsequently causing ocean acidification which is destroying the reefs and their complex ecosystems – what’s harder is to then unpack the myriad of related consequences…

…Those range from the harm to all the planets creatures, the environment, economics, social and political. I cannot stress this enough – if you strip away all the talk, the political posturing and all the corporate spin, every issue we face as a species relates back to our relationship with this planet. Something that may sound as random or inconsequential to your life as a dead reef in small island nation will have an impact on everyone at some point. This mural is inspired by those thoughts and dedicated to all our neighbouring Pacific Island nations, most likely the least contributors to the problem yet on the very frontline of the consequences of climate change. Big thanks to Frankie Adams for being the model for this work.” – Askew

Jonny Alexander – Mural Topic: Coastal Development and Sea Level Rise

“The correlation between environmental issues can be seen from a macro to micro view. Starting from the large scale, Climate Change being the overarching result of a global way of living. The altering of climate zones around the world is largely an effect of human consumption habits as a whole. And leads directly to sea level rise…

…Going smaller, I chose to focus on a specific symbol that represents human consumption, the cargo ship. The cargo ship is a representation of global trade; it is the new largest creature in the seas, overtaking the whale in mass and size. This is the vessel that transports all of our goods from port to port, from manufacturing country to consumer…

…Going further into a micro view, after the cargo ship brings the goods to port. Daily human consumption is the next step. The way in which we choose to live our lives has a great impact on our environment. This is where change begins, on an individual basis. Being mindful of how you choose to consume necessary and unnecessary products is the beginning of creating change.” – Jonny Alexander

Celeste’s mural addresses the endangered Fiordland Penguins, which nest in the rainforests and ocean rock caves of New Zealand’s South Island when they are not living in the sea. Their populations have decreased since human arrival and in the past 35 years, their population has gone down from 10,000 breeding pairs to 3,000. Humans have caused a loss of their habitat and oil spills, and have introduced the biggest threat to the species – predators, such as dogs, cats, stoats, and rats.

Aaron Glasson – Mural Topic: Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s)

Pania of the Reef is a historical Maori story of love and respect for the ocean that has become one of Napier’s most well known symbols and is retold throughout New Zealand. Pania was a sea-maiden who married a local man, their shape-shifting son Moremore can be seen today in the form of sea animals that serve as an omen, and Pania’s body now makes up Napier’s most famous reef. Aaron worked closely with local Maori and the family of Pania to create his mural that depicts the story of her life, painting her decedents in the role Pania and creating a contemporary interpretation this meaningful history.

Kai’ili Kaulukukui – Mural Topic: Endangered Maui’s Dolphins

“This mural addresses the importance of Maui’s Dolphins, which are critically endangered and the tiny remainder is dwindling rapidly. They are the smallest species of dolphin on the planet, and have unusual breeding practices that lead to a low reproduction rate. We need to speak up for them now before they quietly disappear. I tried to present them as large as possible to represent the immediate importance of this issue.” – Kai’ili Kaulukukui

Lauren Ys – Mural Topic: Hammerhead Data Translation

Lauren’s mural focuses on the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, only five of which have ever been tagged in Japan, a project led by Tre’ Packard, the founder of Pangeaseed, and his team. Lauren’s design pulls in the local Maori myth of Pania and Moremore – a sea-fairy and her shape-shifting shark son, whose appearance is an omen of things to come – in order to bring awareness of this incredible species. Her piece aims to bring attention to the pioneering shark-tagging project with the ultimate goal of creating a Marine Protected Area (MPA) for these animals.

Every minute, a garbage truck full of plastic makes its way into the earth’s oceans and plastics are expected to outweigh fish by the year 2050. Every single piece of plastic ever made still exists on earth and now it is breaking down into tiny particles in our seas.

“Our mural focuses on this spectrum of plastic pollution – from large-scale debris, which poisons, chokes, and kills mammals and deep sea fish, to the smaller particles that are being eaten by all sea creatures. Our personal mantra is to ‘live with less’ and reduce our consumption of non-biodegradable products. We are rapidly killing our planet, and ultimately ourselves.” – Meggs

Elliot Francis Stewart – Mural Topic: Ocean Pollution

Elliot Francis Stewart highlights the growing concerns of ocean pollution by illustrating the future potential of one of humans simple pleasures coming under threat.

“This work speaks of the critically endangered NZ Storm Petrel (Oceanites Maorianus). The small swallow like seabird was declared extinct in 1850, until it was rediscovered in 2004. We are currently facing the 6th wave of extinction where human activity is directly impacting on the survival of other species & biodiversity. Especially as witnessed in our oceans right now…

The story of the Storm Petrel and its re-emergence into existence is one of hope. Few creatures are considered Lazarus Taxons (an organism that has disappeared from the fossil record only to reappear again) and I painted this piece as a reminder that we know so little about our earth and its mysteries. I believe its critically important keep our wild spaces just that – wild & free. Our survival as well as other creatures such as the Storm Petrel depends on our earth’s diversity.” – Vexta

“I wanted to create a world where the sharks have actually taken on human characteristics and have come to land to take revenge for being finned and stand their ground. I believe education about shark finning is important through art and I want to bring the topic into the light by creating these large shark figures that will eventually be towering over the humans passing by in Napier.” – Spencer Keeton Cunningham

“The power of public art and activism has the ability to educate and inspire the global community to help save our seas. No matter where you are inthe world, the ocean supplies us with every second breath we take and life on Earth cannot exist without healthy oceans. With dwindling global fish stocks, rising sea levels, and widespread pollution, whether you live on the coast or in the city or in the mountains, we should all feel responsible for the health of the oceans and life that lives within it,” PangeaSeed Foundation Executive Director Tre’ Packard said.

“The power of public art and activism has the ability to educate and inspire the global community to help save our seas. No matter where you are in the world, the ocean supplies us with every second breath we take and life on Earth cannot exist without healthy oceans. With dwindling global fish stocks, rising sea levels, and widespread pollution, whether you live on the coast or in the city or in the mountains, we should all feel responsible for the health of the oceans and life that lives within it,” says PangeaSeed Foundation Executive Director Tre’ Packard